E Ink Corporation

Shamus Ford Patry

Thomas Henry Whitesides

Guy Danner

Michael D McCreary

Charles Howie Honeyman

Gregg Michael Duthaler

Richard J Paolini, Jr

Richard M Webber

Harit Doshi

Jonathan D Albert

Robert Waverly Zehner

Alain Bouchard

John E Ritter

Jonathan L Zalesky

Timothy J O'Malley, Jr

George G Harris

Craig A Herb

Steven J O'Neil

Michael D Walls

Stephen P Dudek

Seungman Sohn

Sandra Rifai

Valerie C Northrop

Guy M Danner

Thomas H Whitesides

Video displays using relatively low frame rates of about 10 to about 20 frames per second, but having acceptable video quality are described. The displays may use bistable media, and may be driven such that the medium, when driven, changes its optical properties continuously during the driving of each frame. The displays may use an electro-optic medium such that the frame period is from about 50 to about 200 per cent of the switching time of the electro-optic medium at the driving voltage used.

Methods for driving video electro-optic displays

Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.

Electro-optic display with edge seal

A laminate comprising a solid electro-optic medium and an electrically conductive layer is tested by passing it over a pair of electrodes at different potentials, with the electrically conductive layer lying on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium from the electrodes. An article which can be tested by this method, and which is useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays, comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium and a release sheet comprising an electrically conductive layer.

Components and testing methods for use in the production of electro-optic displays

An electro-optic display comprises a backplane; a layer of electro-optic material disposed adjacent the backplane; a protective layer; and a sealing layer of a metal or a ceramic extending between the backplane and the protective layer, and thus sealing the layer of electro-optic material from the outside environment.

Edge seals for, and processes for assembly of, electro-optic displays

A coating of an encapsulated electrophoretic medium is formed on a substrate () by dispersing in a fluid () a plurality of electrophoretic capsules (), contacting at least a portion of a substrate () with the fluid (); and applying a potential difference between at least a part of the portion of the substrate () contacting the fluid () and a counter-electrode () in electrical contact with the fluid (), thereby causing capsules () to be deposited upon at least part of the portion of the substrate () contacting the fluid (). Patterned coatings of capsules containing different colors may be deposited in registration with electrodes using multiple capsule deposition steps. Alternatively, patterned coatings of capsules may be formed by applying a fluid form of an electrophoretic medium to a substrate, and applying a temporally varying voltage between an electrode and the substrate. The process may be repeated to allow for deposition of full color displays.

Processes for the production of electrophoretic displays

A front plane laminate (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,178) is produced by forming a sub-assembly comprising a lamination adhesive layer and an electro-optic layer, forming an aperture through the sub-assembly, and securing a light-transmissive electrode layer to the sub-assembly so that the electrode layer extends across the aperture. Alternatively, formation of the aperture is omitted, and the electrode layer has a tab portion extending beyond the edges of the lamination adhesive and electro-optic layers. When a front plane laminate is secured to a backplane to form an electro-optic display, a stiffening layer may be attached to either part to increase its stiffness, then removed after the lamination. An electro-optic display or front plane laminate may use an adhesive layer comprising separate layers of cross-linked and non-cross-linked adhesive.

Electro-optic displays, and materials and methods for production thereof

A flexible electro-optic display comprises a layer of solid electro-optic material; a backplane comprising at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the layer of electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer disposed between the layer of electro-optic material and the backplane and adhesively securing the layer of electro-optic material to the backplane, the adhesive layer having a storage modulus (G') of at least about 10Pascals at 10Hz and 70&#xb0; C.

Electro-optic displays, and materials for use therein

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

Shamus Ford Patry